ISO Frequently Asked Questions

Certification is granted to an organization after auditing its management system. Accreditation is formal recognition of a certification body's competence. An accredited certification body provides more credible certifications.

No. ISO develops and publishes standards only. Certificates are issued by independent Certification Bodies (CBs), which may or may not be accredited.

Most ISO certifications are voluntary. However, they may be required for government tenders or private sector contracts. Some sectors like medical devices and food may require specific certifications from regulatory authorities.

Typically 3 years, with annual surveillance audits to verify continued compliance. After 3 years, a recertification audit is conducted.

Yes, if the organization fails to meet requirements or misses periodic audits. The CB may suspend or withdraw the certificate for major nonconformities.

Three types: Internal audit (by the organization), Second-party audit (by a customer or regulatory body), and Third-party audit (by a CB for certification).

It depends on organization size and complexity. It may take one day for small organizations to several days for large multi-site organizations.

Major nonconformities require corrective action before certification. Minor nonconformities are given time for resolution. Observations are recorded as improvement opportunities.

Absolutely. Internal audits before the CB audit reveal gaps. Ensure documents and records are available and employees are ready for interviews.

It varies by readiness and standard. Generally: 3-6 months for fairly ready organizations, 6-12 months for those building systems from scratch.

Yes, by allocating sufficient resources and dedicating the quality team. However, avoid rushing at the expense of actual implementation quality.

From the certificate issue date. Annual audits are conducted before year-end, and recertification audit before the 3-year expiry.

Organization size, number of employees, number of sites, process complexity, required standard, and current readiness level.

Yes: annual audit fees, system maintenance and update costs, new employee training, and recertification every 3 years.

Usually yes. Benefits include: improved efficiency, reduced errors and waste, new market access, and enhanced customer trust. ROI shows in the medium to long term.

Yes, this is common. Many organizations combine ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), and ISO 45001 (safety) in an integrated system.

A system that combines requirements of multiple standards into a unified framework, reducing duplication and bureaucracy while simplifying management and auditing.

Combined audits can be conducted for multiple standards simultaneously, saving time and cost.

Check their accreditation (from a recognized accreditation body), market reputation, sector expertise, and clarity of pricing and terms.

No. They differ in reputation, accreditation, and sector expertise. A body accredited by an IAF member provides more internationally recognized certificates.

Yes, at renewal or even before. The new body conducts a Transfer Audit to verify the validity of the current certificate.